Ash stood in the middle of a seemingly endless void with nothing before him.
In that moment he wanted to shout, but nothing came out, not even a muzzled voice.
The longer he looked the less he saw, the space was slowly losing more and more of it's essence.
Suddenly something appeared in the distance with a human like outline, whether it was a human or just something that looked like it he couldn't know as it was facing away from him. Soon Ash found himself trying his hardest to approach it.
The closer he got the further the figure felt, it seemed impossible to approach, but in that moment the figure turned around and looked Ash dead in the eyes.
There was no face, just an eerie smile.
...
Waking up like he was struck by electricity Ash realised, he had merely been dreaming, but this dream of his felt familiar.
'The dream from last week.'
He remembered that he had dreamt of something similiar just a week ago when news of the SCC's arrivel first came. And although there were clear differences between the two they carried the same "vibe" if you may.
There was also another thing he recognized from the dream, it was the figure at the end of it. It was someone he wished not to be acquainted with, but to his discomfort he was.
'Floch.'
Ash felt a bit distressed about his dream as it felt like a bad premonition, but he felt there was nothing to worry about as he was soon to leave Blackheart behind.
Looking out from his cave he could see that the sun was soon to set and knew that the departure of the second batch was coming soon.
He was about to pick himself up and get out from his cave when he suddenly started hearing sounds coming from the distance.
It sounded like a scream, but not the type kids would make while playing, nor the type that babies would make when they peed themselves, no it was one Ash was not yet familiar with. They were screams filled with such dread and terror that even as someone who has not seen someone screaming for their lives could instantly figure that that was the cause.
'What is going on?'
But before he could react his Soul Chip suddenly activated with a notification on the screen.
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[Talent scanning is complete]
[Thank you for using Soul Chip Corporation for you procedure]
[Showing results...]
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[Soul Chip Interface]
>Core Power: [Truth Seeker]
>Proficiency: [2%]
>Rank: [I]
>Attribute: [Light]
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[Minor Skills]
> Null
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Looking at his skill Ash quickly willed the device to show it's description.
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>[Truth Seeker]
>Allows the user to discern truth from lie. User can detect when he's being lied to. Also provides minor immunity to illusory abilities. Effects may change as the user ranks up.
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Ash couldn't believe his eyes for a moment, because Will was seemingly right, his skill was useless. Atleast in the current scenario it was, maybe it would be good for business dealings, but it lacked the destructive ability to get him out of this place alive.
By this point Ash knew that the worst has come to pass and that Floch had already started his slaughter. He had hoped his skill could help him, but it seemed to be more life skill oriented than combat.
It seemed there was nothing he could do.
His best shot at survival was staying in the cave and waiting for Floch to leave.
But Ash also knew full well that this was merely wishful thinking on his part. Floch already knew Ash too well, they met too many times, there is no way he would forget about him.
He was left between a rock and a hard place. Resign to his fate and wait for his end to arrive, or try some way to survive.
In the end rather uncharacteristically Ash decided to stand up against Floch.
'There is only one scenario in which I survive, and that's if most of Floch's abilities rely on illusions.'
Walking out of his cave and looking up Ash could see that giant red clouds had formed above the town.
Suddenly he could feel slight droplets hitting his head and shoulders.
Shifting his focus to the ground he could already see the results of those droplets as small ponds made out of blood were littered about everywhere.
The thing he needed most was his sword, which he had to his misfortune left back at the orphanage.
With his destination decided Ash started walking, slow at first, but faster and faster as time went on.
During his walk there was something that deeply bothered Ash. He hadn't heard any screams since the first one resounded a few minutes ago.
While walking across the town he could really feel just how empty it was, not even a soul or sound could be seen or heard, the only thing Ash could hear were his own footsteps splashing in the puddles of blood under his feet.
And then he saw it a person, the first one he had seen thus far, and... he wished he hadn't seen it. What was there was no person, not anymore, it was just a pile of flesh with blood oozing out of it.
The closer he got to the orphanage the more bodies he saw. First it was just one, then it was two, and soon it became piles.
Standing before what was once the orphanage all Ash could see was a hill made out of flesh, standing atop it were two figures.
Seeing as this was a dead end, he decided to find another way into the orphanage.
Making a detour through the side streets he arrived behind the orphanage, there he entered through a window as the doors were seemingly all locked.
Entering the orphanage, the once peaceful corridors seemed like passageways, right to Hell.
The number of bodies were staggering, Ash didn't even know there were this many people at the orphanage.
Slowly making his way through he arrived before the bunks, where his own bed and small cabinet was.
Looking through it surely enough his sword was sitting there untouched.
'Finally, I've found it.'
Gripping his sword Ash felt a hint of relief wash over him as he was overcome with a strange sense of security.
"Are you done now?"
The voice came from behind him, but without looking he already knew who it came from. Without a hint of hesitation he swung his sword in the voice's direction.
*sigh*
"Hey now is this really your best? I know you don't have any form of experience with handling weapons, but still."
Not giving up Ash continued to repeatedly swing his sword, but the only thing he got as a result were even more insults from Floch.
After swinging for a bit he could feel his strength leaving him, he was over his limit.
"Truly disappointing, I really can't have this Ash. You need a bit more time it seems."
In the next moment Ash felt a striking pain in his abdomen, but by the moment after all the pain was gone. And then darkness.
The darkness felt welcoming, familiar, and oddly warm. Death is often described as something cold, but that was quite far from the truth, it was warm, very warm.
Ash felt content, he felt that he had tried his best, and in the end that was all that mattered. Ash felt like he had returned to doing what he liked most sleeping. The warmth, the comfort. It was all so familiar, maybe a bit too familiar.
In the next moment Ash felt something touching his skin, it was a slightly rough texture, but also something that could tear at a moments notice. It was paper.
Realising this Ash soon got up from his rest and realised, that he was once again in his cave.
'Was it a dream?'
Suddenly as he was touching the ground he felt something tough with his hand.
It was his sword right next to him in the cave.
'Why is this here?'
He knew for a fact that he had left it at the orphanage. Just as he was thinking about why the sword was here a loud scream echoed through the town, followed by a much familiar silence.
'Is this time travel?'
Just as he was thinking about what the cause of all these things could be something appeared that cemented his prior theory.
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[Talent scanning is complete]
[Thank you for using Soul Chip Corporation for you procedure]
[Showing results...]
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[Soul Chip Interface]
>Core Power: [Truth Seeker]
>Proficiency: [2%]
>Rank: [I]
>Attribute: [Light]
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[Minor Skills]
> Null
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By this point it was clear to Ash that he had indeed come back in time.